I will not have been the only one in recent weeks to have turned my eyes to the west coast of America as one of the most eagerly-awaited arrivals to the NWSL seized center stage. On 20 March, Angel City FC finally took to the field at the Titan Stadium in California under the guidance of the head coach, Freya Coombe. They emerged to a raucous reception as they made their much-anticipated professional debut.
From this side of the Atlantic too, and across the world, it has been hard not to get caught up in the enthusiasm. Since Natalie Portman and her ella star-studded board and investors were awarded expansion rights by the NWSL in July 2020, ella’s interest in their efforts both on and off the pitch has continued to grow. As Coombe says, this distinctive group of more than 100 co-owners, two-thirds of whom are women, have added an energy to the project like no other: “It is incredible. Natalie Portman spoke to the whole team on our first day and really set the stage for what is being built here and showed the players that they are a part of something special from the outset.”
The NWSL expansion draft is an alien concept to someone like me, a product of the English football system. But while the expansion process proves a test for any team, Coombe believes there are positives to the system that allows a project like Angel City to emerge. “It is an opportunity to write your own story,” she says. “Angel City is doing things so differently that never would have been possible with an established club. We are attracting new fans and sponsors and shedding a new light on the league as a whole.”
On the pitch, Coombe’s side has come together in a flurry. Since November, they have quickly assembled a roster of players and staff to compete. The names are there, the most prominent of which is the LA-born Christen Press, but it will inevitably take time for the jigsaw to fall into place. The Challenge Cup, essentially a pre-season competition, provides the platform to do just that. While their start has been tricky – three losses and one draw – Coombe knows success will not happen overnight: “We have a journey ahead, but you can see that we are coming together as a cohesive unit. Every game we learn more and more.”
Perhaps where Angel City is most ground-breaking is its outreach work within the community. Their vast array of partners must commit 10% to local projects, aligning themselves with the organisation’s vision. From delivering meals, to school gardening projects and community events, the club is setting new standards for the sport.
In the meantime, however, focus will return to the pitch as the regular season approaches. Angel City will move into their new home, the 22,000-capacity Banc of California Stadium, for their NWSL opener against North Carolina Courage on 29 April. With 15,000 season tickets sold and six official supporter groups already established, the anticipation around the team is infectious.
“Supporters planted the seed to bring an NWSL club to Los Angeles,” says Coombe. “They showed up in incredible numbers at our first preseason Challenge Cup game and their support hasn’t wavered… it’s not just attendance. 465,000 watched our pre-season game against San Diego two weeks ago, which is the second highest viewership of any MLS or NWSL game in 2022. That shows that people are paying attention to what we are doing and want to be a part of Angel City history.”
I, along with many others, will be keeping a close eye on their progress. The interest and supporter numbers they have generated in a relatively short amount of time are truly remarkable.
talking points
New era in North Macedonia: It has been a special year for the women’s game there. On 8 March, the Football Federation of North Macedonia launched its first ever women’s football strategy. Spearheaded by Ana Trajkova, its goals are to develop a competitive domestic league, increase awareness and develop national teams at both youth and senior levels. “We will do everything that we can provide the best for women’s football to go straight ahead and to make it sport No 1 for girls and women in our country,” she says. Very much a young nation on the international stage – their first official senior match was in 2005 – the energy around the sport is palpable.
Bend It Like Beckham at 20: As a young girl, with little access to football, my contribution to the sport I loved was mainly in my dreams. That is why Bend It Like Beckham hit so close to home, providing visibility for many who had never seen themselves before in mainstream media. This iconic movie celebrates its 20th anniversary this week, a cinematic success that helped shape a generation. But it wasn’t only for the women’s football narrative that it should be celebrated. It was in many ways ahead of its time. Steeped in humor, Gurinder Chadha’s creation of her tackled many inequalities – sexism; racism; homophobia – throughout that we fight so passionately against today.
Quote of the week
“I’m really happy. I don’t really have words for this moment. I’ve been waiting a long time for it and to have here my family and all my friends, it’s something amazing” – Damaris Egurrola on making her Netherlands debut, having switched international allegiance from Spain.
recommended viewing
There has been plenty of international action to entertain us this week, and numerous goals to boot. But none come better than New Zealand’s opener against Australia. Anna Green with an angled rocket. Was it a cross or was it a shot? That’s for you to decide.
Still want more?
England routed Northern Ireland 5-0 in Belfast but the game was overshadowed by remarkable comments from the hosts’ manager Kenny Shiels, as Suzanne Wrack reports. Meanwhile, the USA hammered Uzbekistan 9-0 and Australia did the double over New Zealand, winning their second meeting 3-1, before Aivi Luik produced this powerful moment.
Rachel Hall has more on Bend it Like Beckham at 20.
And Louise Taylor catches up with Liverpool as they secure a return to the WSL.
question time
“Why isn’t Spurs’ Ash Neville in the England squad? She is fantastic,” writes Kathryn A Nathan.
Suzanne Wrack: “Great question. Ash Neville is a brilliant right-back and arguably deserves a shot at international level. There are a few hurdles to her inclusion in the England squad, though. Usurping Lucy Bronze is nigh on impossible and although she has had injury struggles there are players in the set-up – Rachel Daly, Niamh Charles, Jess Carter, Georgia Stanway – who can step in.”
“I was wondering about the diversity – or lack of it – with European teams,” wonders Sarah Taylor in Hamburg.
Suzanne says: “Hi Sarah. Taking England, for example, an overwhelmingly white national team, there are several factors that have contributed to this. Historically, the team was more diverse but as academies and outreach programs shifted from inner cities, like London, to the more suburban training grounds of clubs, this had an impact on the demographic of players involved. Ethnic minorities are more likely to live in the most deprived neighborhoods in England and are disproportionately represented in lower socioeconomic groups, and do not always have the flexibility and financial resources to be able to take their daughters to training multiple times a week. In addition to this, the value placed on girls’ involvement in sport differs from community to community. This is a starting point of response to a very important question, of which there are many more factors involved that are hard to cover in the newsletter in brief, but it is a topic we will be discussing before the Euros in far greater detail.”
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism